The backcountry in Hakuba is absolutely amazing. Easy access to endless lines of over 1000 vertical meters of untouched powder. Drop off the sides or climb a little further to search for what ever you are after. Words of warning though. Take care and bring with you knowledge, beacon, shovel and a probe (all except the knowledge is available to hire with prior notice). Guaranteed results of a smile ear to ear. Take advantage of the White Horse shuttle service which can come and pick you up at strategic points so you can go and do it all over again. Before heading off please inform our staff of your plans and fill in your trip notes and hand them into reception so we know where you will be. Always best to have travel insurance that covers a rescue also.
You will have an amazing experience in the Hakuba BC.

Japan is famous for its animation and now I have joined the likes of Miyazaki and his team and created my own piece which will no doubt be in line for some sort of oscar award later in the year. It is a fun website to play around with while having a few beers at the bar after a good day on the mountain in Hakuba. At the White Horse here in Echoland We have a computer at the bar so our guests can relax check their emails and have a look at whats happening around the world. There is also another one in the games room which has a skype headset so you can call your family and friends back home. Many of our guests will bring their notebook computer and take advantage of our free highspeed wireless internet.

We get a few different requests in during the season which we try our hardest to satisfy every one of. Joe scored some brownie points organising a ski trip for his family and friends. To start the holiday off on a good note he organised for their arrival, champagne and a cheese platter for all the ladies along with an hour massage to loosen up their bodies for a day on the snow. A great trip was had by all. Sometimes by just  having that relaxing time right at the start brings your mind into holiday mode straight away. Good thinking Joe.

Holidays were good here in Hakuba, amazing actually. Each year I came here I just fell in love with it more and more. In January 2006 I came here again on another snow holiday and with the intent to assess the property market. I stumbled upon an insurance companys corporate retreat that was for sale and the White Horse was born. Since then I have been involved in numerous property transactions purchasing and selling hotels and houses. Each year I am asked for advice from our guests in regards to buying. I tell them that there first priority should be for the love of the place. The true investment is the smiles and good times for the investors and their loved ones. Second to lifestyle is the fiscal returns. A good management company can help you along the road to financial security
To help with all the inquiries I receive I have decided to put up a page on this blog to show some of the properties available. I will have checked them out personally and I would not recommend a property that I would not buy myself. That could be for the quality of the structure, price and of course position, position, position. I am not an agent however I do have some building industry experience. I will not photoshop any of the pictures either. I am happy to assist people along the way to their ski property in Hakuba and joining me in “living the dream”.
Here is a property I checked out this morning. My friends actually rented it for a few years so I already knew the basic layout. On the market for 17,800,000 yen.  Land size is 870 m/2 . The building is steel frame with reiforced concrete and has 223 m/2 of floor space.  It is situated in the popular Echoland area just 100 meters from the main strip and the free resort shuttles.

Every year we have many guests turn up to Hakuba who decide to throw themselves off the side of a snow laden mountain with one or two slippery planks attached to their feet. Skiing and snowboarding are in fact quite dangerous sports. We even have competitions of who can go the fastest or who can jump in the air and complete the most amount of aerial maneuvers. When you think about it, it really is inevitable that injuries will occur at some stage and accidents do happen. Last year I hurt my knee basically falling over at a snail’s pace. This year an ankle injury due to trying to achieve the highest speed possible. I am determined next year to focus on every turn and every moment I am attached to my plank.

Hakuba is where they held the majority of events for the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998. The downhill races were held on Happo One (pronounced hap-po o-ne). It has 4 base areas with the lowest elevation at 760 meters up to the top lift of 1831 meters which equals  1071 meters of verticle skiing. Top to bottom is something that is certainly going to test your thighs. There are plenty of pit stops along the way so don’t feel too pressured into pushing the limits like Hermann Maier in his dramatic crash in the Mens Downhill in 98.

A half day on the mountain and then off to lunch. Sushi is not just a meal but an art form here in Japan. There are quite a few sushi restaurants in Hakuba along with a sushi train next to one of the runs at Happo One. If you get the chance make sure you try some toro which is fatty tuna. A lot of people think the best tuna is a deep red colour however the best part truely is the fatty area which is a very light pink. It just melts in your mouth like butter. For all the best tips on eating out in Hakuba come and talk to us at the White Horse.